lower profile tyres

[mattc]

Hey guys

just wondering what are the effects from lowering the profile of my stock tyres...

moving from 195/55/15 to 195/50/15

besides
-possible increase in rd noise
-slightly faster, accerlation due to smaller circumference of tyres
-slightly lighter?
-looks?

are there any benefits/negatives?

Currently riding on stock sussy.. but thinking of lowering it so the wheels are in line with the guards.

Cheers
-matt

[DC5.Raven]

you'll throw-out ur speedo accuracy slightly. cause the overall diameter will be slighly smaller. the speedo will be showing u going a bit faster than you actually are.

check out this site:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[Mugen Civic]

you'll throw-out ur speedo accuracy slightly. cause the overall diameter will be slighly smaller. the speedo will be showing u going a bit faster than you actually are.

check out this site:
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Yup thats correct. In addition I think speedo's are even tuned up abouts 2km/h from factory. Meaning if your actual speed is 100km/h, your speedo will read 102km/h. Just so it helps you not speed and get booked n stuff. (hope i didn't get it wrong)

As for your question, doesn't matter if you put the 55 or 50 profile tyre.

[Nodachi]

but what about the function of the product... as far as i know.. the less rubber, the less grib hench why people don't like "rubber band" tyres
someone correct me if i am wrong

[Mr_will]

nodachi i'm correcting you because youre wrong:)

grip is a function of the tyre material and the tread pattern. you cant really say that having thinner tyres gives less grip (ie the rubber band argument)

to answer the OP's question - dont do it. i have 195/50/15's on civic vtir rims, on my teg - its terrible compared to the 55's - more understeer and a crashy ride.

[mattc]

Thanks for your input fellas...
ive spoken to others mixed feelings as well.. some say do.. others say dont..

anyone else done this? swapped from 55s to 50s? results?

i guess the biggest factor is $$$.. for some reason 50s are more popular than 55s.. which leaves around abt a 40 price diff PER TYRE!

[aaronng]

Very small difference from a comfort point of view. The biggest change will be your speedo reading only very slightly higher.

[Mugen Civic]

but what about the function of the product... as far as i know.. the less rubber, the less grib hench why people don't like "rubber band" tyres
someone correct me if i am wrong

I don't think that applies to the original question.
Both tyres are 195mm in width, so the its the same rubber contact on the road.

What the tyre is made of is another factor.

[teaseR]

nodachi i'm correcting you because youre wrong:)

grip is a function of the tyre material and the tread pattern. you cant really say that having thinner tyres gives less grip (ie the rubber band argument)

to answer the OP's question - dont do it. i have 195/50/15's on civic vtir rims, on my teg - its terrible compared to the 55's - more understeer and a crashy ride.

but wouldnt it be less body roll due to the lower profile?
correct me if im wrong.

[Nodachi]

thanks for the clearing up...^^

[aaronng]

to answer the OP's question - dont do it. i have 195/50/15's on civic vtir rims, on my teg - its terrible compared to the 55's - more understeer and a crashy ride.
Were you using the same brand and model of tyres when you went from 55 to 50 profile?

[teaseR]

I don't think that applies to the original question.
Both tyres are 195mm in width, so the its the same rubber contact on the road.

What the tyre is made of is another factor.

well i went to btc for the re001 in 195/50/15 yesterday and they go that the higher the profile the more road contact ull get due the it tends to 'sag' more.
he goes ill get about 3-5mm more contact on road from 195/55/15. keep in mind they are both the same width

comparing 195/55 -> 195/50 the circumference is ~30mm less

[Mr_will]

Were you using the same brand and model of tyres when you went from 55 to 50 profile?

yes. t1r's

[Mr_will]

well i went to btc for the re001 in 195/50/15 yesterday and they go that the higher the profile the more road contact ull get due the it tends to 'sag' more.
he goes ill get about 3-5mm more contact on road from 195/55/15. keep in mind they are both the same width

comparing 195/55 -> 195/50 the circumference is ~30mm less

how much did you pay for 195/55/15's if you bought them?

[teaseR]

how much did you pay for 195/55/15's if you bought them?

180 for 195/55

119 for 195/50

big price difference

[Mugen Civic]

well i went to btc for the re001 in 195/50/15 yesterday and they go that the higher the profile the more road contact ull get due the it tends to 'sag' more.
he goes ill get about 3-5mm more contact on road from 195/55/15. keep in mind they are both the same width

comparing 195/55 -> 195/50 the circumference is 30mm less

Yes I see your point, to achieve that you'll have to have very controlled tyre pressures.

daily driving, tyres warm up and cool down and so in terms off mm's of contact varies in one trip.

[94dc2tegz]

to answer the OP's question - dont do it. i have 195/50/15's on civic vtir rims, on my teg - its terrible compared to the 55's - more understeer and a crashy ride.

really?

dropping form a 195/55 to a 195/50 made a big difference? just a 9.75mm difference too.

in my situation i'm going from a 205/40/17 to a 205/50/15 -

i can't wait to feel the difference! should b huuge :D

[Lukey]

i went from 215/45/17 to 195/60/14

man i get shitloads more understeer.

[Limbo]

T1R - 205/55/15 are going for $165...

I need more tread ;)

[94dc2tegz]

i went from 215/45/17 to 195/60/14

man i get shitloads more understeer.

assuming ur driving a dc4, y did u drop to 14"s?

u go too big there are obvious performance disadvantages

but if u go too small i'm sure there are again disadvatages?

should stick with OEM size i think for best results.

[TALEB TYRES]

just a note on legalities ou may not be aware of.

guys if your changing sizes, make sure you know the difference in rolling diameter, can severely affect your speedo = speeding fines even when you think your in the right!!!

also not many people (even cops that pull me over!) know that rta doesnt use the max 2" bigger rule anymore, the rta allows +/-15mm difference in rolling diameter, so another thing to watch out for when changing sizes...

trust me, telling this to the cop who tries to defect you for bigger wheels = priceless!!!(just make sure you keep a printout of the rta guideline on this for proof!!!)

[Mugen Civic]

just a note on legalities ou may not be aware of.

guys if your changing sizes, make sure you know the difference in rolling diameter, can severely affect your speedo = speeding fines even when you think your in the right!!!

also not many people (even cops that pull me over!) know that rta doesnt use the max 2" bigger rule anymore, the rta allows +/-15mm difference in rolling diameter, so another thing to watch out for when changing sizes...

trust me, telling this to the cop who tries to defect you for bigger wheels = priceless!!!(just make sure you keep a printout of the rta guideline on this for proof!!!)


^^ Wow did not know that
I've been looking at the RTA website so i can print it out and keep in the car if the occasion calls for them to be pulled out, but i can't find it.
Can somebody direct me to the right site or link it, would be great!

[TALEB TYRES]

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi09_rev4.pdf

that the wheels and tyre section, a minor modifications does not need any rta notification, most cops dont even know these rules exist!

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_dl1.html

that lists all the sections, definitely worth a read and has saved me from a few defects! ie did you know if your exhaust hangs really low underneath your rear axle like mine does, its not illegal...

[civ04]

Hey fellas
just remember that your profile is the percentage of the width of the tyre,so on a 195/50 the profiile is 50% of 195 and so on.

[Mugen Civic]

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi09_rev4.pdf

that the wheels and tyre section, a minor modifications does not need any rta notification, most cops dont even know these rules exist!

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_dl1.html

that lists all the sections, definitely worth a read and has saved me from a few defects! ie did you know if your exhaust hangs really low underneath your rear axle like mine does, its not illegal...

Thanks!

[Mr_will]

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi09_rev4.pdf

that the wheels and tyre section, a minor modifications does not need any rta notification, most cops dont even know these rules exist!

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_dl1.html

that lists all the sections, definitely worth a read and has saved me from a few defects! ie did you know if your exhaust hangs really low underneath your rear axle like mine does, its not illegal...

I know youre trying to do the right thing here, but the cops can defect for ANYTHING that is non-standard, so a print out of those guidelines isnt going to do much.

[TALEB TYRES]

yeah i know that, but if you stick to the rta guidelines, which is what the cops are there to enforce, you shouldnt have a problem, thats as long as you are within guidelines. it cant hurt to try,

as long as your confident with it you can talk your self out of almost anything.

[4age8u]

nothing im 175/60r14 i think? the 205/40r17 grips like on rails on eg civic